Coaches graduate from 2017 Coach 2024 programme

The 2017 cohort of Coach 2024 coaches graduated following 14-months on the programme.

The 15 coaches were selected in November 2016. Since then they have been on an intensive learning journey together. They attended workshops and had opportunities to coach at high level international events. The group of coaches formed a bespoke ‘community’ and shared their experience, skills and knowledge with one another.

The programme aligns itself with British Swimming’s Team Coaching Principles. This ensures that the swimmers who will be working towards the next Olympic cycle are supported to reach their full potential, as well as those who come after.

Speaking about the programme, Coach Development Manager Jo Jones said: “Coach 2024 is very much about identifying and investing in a cohort of coaches who are coaching our next generation of international swimmers.

“The vision was very much about taking a group of coaches on a journey to understand themselves better. And also how their coaching behaviours and practices impact on others around them. We had unprecedented interest in the programme from the outset. As a result we recruited 15 coaches onto the programme in October 2016.

“The programme has been a fantastic demonstration of collaboration between British Swimming, Para-Swimming and the England Talent team. There has been extensive learning opportunities through a number of international camps and competitions through the programme together with access to an individual mentor for each coach on the programme. ”

Click here to find out more about the Coach 2024 programme.

Coach 2024 Feedback

All of the coaches fully engaged with the programme, and it was a huge success. Taking the learnings from the first cohort, and listening to feedback from the coaches, the programme will continue to develop. The England Talent Swimming team will be looking to select another group of coaches in August 2018.

Head Coach at Wycombe District Kevin Brooks reflected on the programme. “I think the most important thing I learned was about discovering me as a person,” said Brooks. “Also about the values that I believe in and how that reflects in the team I coach and how I coach my swimmers.”

“I think one of the habits I’ve cultivated as a result of this programme is being open and honest. Actually answering questions when they’re asked, rather than diverting myself away from them. Also, being curious and inquisitive and really trying to dig deep to find out what makes people tick.

“I think if you can truly understand who you’re dealing with, whether that’s another coach, a parent or a swimmer, and you know why they are acting or behaving like they are, then you are much better equipped to know how to deal with that.”

City of Oxford Head Coach Amanda Booth said: “One of the biggest challenges I faced on the programme was to reflect on myself. Reflecting on my behaviours and my coaching practice. It was really easy for me to focus on others, to think about my family’s needs, my swimmers needs. But to think about my own needs, that was challenging.

“Overcoming this challenge and thinking about my needs has made me much more aware of what my strengths are and what areas I need to develop, and how my behaviours impact the swimmers that I coach.”